Eco Friendly Product Guide

If you’re anything like me, coffee is not just a luxury. It is an absolute necessity that you must have before you can actually function each day. Coffee has grown in popularity in the past decade. Even the Average Joe has developed a sophisticated coffee palette and the corner coffee shop usually has several blends to please their customers.

But without a doubt, the best coffee is organically grown. What is “organic coffee?” According to the Organic Trade Association:

Organic coffee is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party certification organizations verify that organic farmers abide by the law.

In order for coffee to be certified and sold as organic in the United States, it must be produced in accordance with U.S. standards for organic production and certified by an agency accredited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. U.S. requirements for organic coffee production include farming without synthetic pesticides or other prohibited substances for three years and a sustainable crop rotation plan to prevent erosion, the depletion of soil nutrients, and control for pests.

So the value of organic coffee lies in much more than just its rich, delicious taste.  It is also an important step toward keeping the environment and the communities in which it is grown healthy.

For an excellent sampling of high-quality organic coffee, give Organic Gorilla a try.  This delicious, mellow blend is 100% organic and naturally decaffeinated using the Swiss water process.  This particular coffee comes in the whole bean form so that you can grind it yourself and experience the freshly released flavor that is unlike anything else.

Treat yourself to a pound of Organic Gorilla Coffee from Kate’s Caring Gifts for just $9.99.

Let’s be honest here: throwing away that coffee filter is a bit of an annoyance. Some of us who are hardcore coffee drinkers also know it’s troubling when you go to make that perfect cup-a-joe in the morning, and realize you forgot to buy coffee filters at the store. It’s not the most pleasant way to wake up in the morning.

There are a variety of reusable coffee filters out there, but you can’t always find one that is green or eco-friendly…something good for the environment. Well, over at Nubius Organics, they sell reusable coffee filters made from hemp fabric. All you have to do is rinse with water or a natural dish soap, and you are set to use the same filter the next day.

At $5.95 per filter, it’s the perfect way to help save paper, do something good for the environment and still retain that wonderful, dark roast that you love to wake up to every morning. Don’t forget to add your old coffee grounds to your compost pile or bin when you empty out your reusable hemp coffee filter!